Post Office to be renamed in honor of fallen Marine

WEST RICHLAND, Wash. -- A ceremony is planned to honor Richland native, Dietrich Schmieman, who tragically died July 11, 2017 with 15 other Marines after a U.S. military plane crash in Mississippi.

Rep. Newhouse will participate in a public ceremony hosted by the U.S. Postal Service to dedicate the West Richland Post Office as the “Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman Post Office Building.” Community members are invited to join Sergeant Schmieman’s family and friends, Marine Corps brothers-in-arms, and local leaders to honor the fallen Richland Marine. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.

The ceremony is Wednesday, March 20th, from 2-3 p.m. at the West Richland Post Office located at 4801 West Van Giesen Street.

Eric and Susan Schmieman, Dietrich's parents, are expected to attend and speak at the event.

Schmieman, a 2009 Hanford graduate, was assigned to the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. The marines were headed to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma for pre-deployment training when their plane went down in a remote field.